Below is a translation of Pope Francis’ address before and after the recitation of the Angelus prayer today at noon to the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square:*** Before the AngelusDear brothers and sisters, good morning!Today, we conclude the reading from the Gospel of John’s sixth chapter, with the discourse on the "Bread of Life", which Jesus delivered in the aftermath of the miracle of multiplication of the loaves and fish. At the end of that discourse, the great enthusiasm of the day before faded because Jesus had said He was the Bread which came down from Heaven, and that He would give His flesh as food and His blood as drink, alluding very clearly to the sacrifice of His own life. Those words provoked disappointment in the people, who considered them unworthy of the Messiah, not "winning." So some watched Jesus as a Messiah who was supposed to speak and act in a way that His mission would be successful, right away! But right here, they make an error: on the understanding of the mission of the Messiah! Even the disciples failed to accept the language, the disturbing language of the Lord. And today's passage refers to their discomfort, "This saying is hard; who can accept it?” (Jn 6:60).In reality, they have understood the words of Jesus. So well that they don’t want to listen to it, because it is a discourse which undermines their way of thinking. And the words of Jesus always make us uncomfortable. They make us uncomfortable, for example, with regard to the spirit of the world, of worldliness. However, Jesus offers the key to overcome difficulties; a key made of three elements. First, His divine origin: He came down from Heaven and will go "to where He was before" (v. 62). Second, His words can be understood only through the action of the Holy Spirit, the One "that gives life" (v. 63). And it is really the Holy Spirit that makes us understand well His words. Third, the real cause of misunderstanding of His words is lack of faith: "There are some of you who do not believe" (v. 64), says Jesus. From that time, the Gospel says, "many [of] His disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied Him." (v. 66). Faced with these defections, Jesus does not take back or soften His words, in fact, He forces us to make a clear choice: either to be with Him or separated from Him--and He says to the Twelve: "Do you also want to leave?" (v. 67).At this point, Peter makes his confession of faith in the name of the other Apostles: "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life" (v. 68). He does not say, "Where shall we go?," But "To whom shall we go?" He does not say “Where shall we go?” But “To whom shall we go!” The real problem here is not in going and abandoning the work that has been undertaken, but rather 'to whom' to go. From that question of Peter, we understand that loyalty to God is a matter of loyalty to a person with whom they are bound to walk together on the same road. And this person is Jesus. All that we have in the world does not satisfy our hunger for the infinite. We need Jesus: to be with Him, to nourish ourselves at His table, His words of eternal life! Believing in Jesus means to make Him the center, the meaning of our life. Christ is not an accessory element: He is the "living bread", the indispensable nourishment. Attaching ourselves to Him, in a real relationship of faith and love, does not mean being chained, but being profoundly free, always on a journey, open to the challenges of our time. Each of us can ask ourselves now: “Who is Jesus for me?” A name? An idea? Only some historic person, or someone who loves me, who gave His life for me, and walks with me? Who is Jesus for you? Do you try to get to know Him? Do you remain with his word? … Do you bring your pocket-Gospel with you to read it in whatever place you are in? Because the more we are with Him, the more our desire to be with Him grows. Now let’s take a moment of silence and each in his heart, can pose the question: Who is Jesus for me? In silence, each in his heart… [Silence] May the Virgin Mary help us to always "go" to Jesus to experience the freedom that He offers us, and that allows us to purify our choices from worldly incrustations and fear. After the Angelus:Appeal for Ukraine Dear brothers and sisters, with deep concern, I follow the conflict in eastern Ukraine, which accelerated again in recent weeks. I renew my heartfelt appeal for the commitments undertaken to achieve peace might be respected; and that, with the help of organizations and persons of good will, there might be a response to the humanitarian emergency in the country. May the Lord grant peace to Ukraine, which will celebrate its national holiday [Independence Day] tomorrow. May Virgin Mary intercede for us!I cordially greet all the Roman pilgrims and those from various countries, in particular the new seminarians of the Pontifical North American College in Rome as they embark upon their theological studies. I salute the sporting group of San Giorgio su Legnano, the faithful of Luzzana and Chioggia; boys and young people of the diocese of Verona.I wish you all a good Sunday. And please, do not forget ...This week, stop for a little bit each day and pose the question: Who is Jesus for me? Each responding in his heart! To all, I wish a good Sunday! And please do not forget to pray for me! Good lunch and see you soon! Text only Shared from Zenit [Translation by Deborah Castellano Lubov]

An historic protest was held at hundreds of Planned Parenthood Clinics Simultaneously in 50 States on August 22. The people were trying to expose Planned Parenthood's illegal trafficking in the remains of aborted children.

Over 60,000 Thousand people attended these protests to create awareness of abortion and sale of aborted baby body parts by Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood clinics receive more than $500 million in taxpayer funding every year for its 700 clinics across the nation.In recent weeks undercover videos released by the Center for Medical Progress exposed the scandal. The protests were held on August 22, 2015 from 9:00am-11:00am

Eric Scheidler (organizer) of Pro-Life Action League:

"These videos are exposing the American people to the truth about Planned Parenthood and the truth about abortion. How can you deny the humanity of a tiny person whose body parts are being harvested for medical use? Worse yet, how can you make jokes about it, like the Planned Parenthood doctors do in these videos? It's time to cease all taxpayer funding of this corrupt organization."

#ProtestPP involves prayer, speakers and holding signs that read #PPSellSBabyParts. Organized by several pro-life organizations, the nationwide protest, known as the "National Day of Protest Against Planned Parenthood," was held outside hundreds of clinics. Pro-Life Action League Executive Director Eric J. Scheidler explained, "Our primary message is the shocking revelation that Planned Parenthood sells baby parts. While this story has dominated the pro-life and Christian press over the past month, many regular Americans have still never heard about it," explained Scheidler. "They deserve to know the truth about Planned Parenthood, an organization that receives over half a billion dollars every year from taxpayers. It is time for this corrupt organization to be deprived of all taxpayer funding and investigated by the U.S. Justice Department." Image Share FreeRepublic

Bangladesh Catholics form a human chain against abuse of children and womenby Sumon CorrayaIn the first seven months of 2015, 347 cases of sexual and physical abuse have been recorded. In 2014, they were 227; 183 in 2013; and 91 in 2012. For the secretary of the Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace, "Children are the future of our nation. Instead they are becoming the victims."Dhaka (AsiaNews) - We want "the government in Dhaka to ensure the safety of children and women, because we have recently seen a worrying increase in the sexual abuse and murder of minors. We want to see those who persecute women and children prosecuted and punished. The government should approve laws for their protection,” said Nirmal Rozario, general secretary of the Bangladesh Christians Association (BCA).As one of about 500 Catholics who yesterday stood in front of the National Press Club in the capital in a human chain to protest against the growing violence against women and children in the country, he spoke to AsiaNews.According to data by the Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum (BSAF), in the first seven months of the year alone there have been 347 cases or attempts of sexual assault on minors. In 2014, they were 227, 183 in 2013, and 91 the year before. Most of the victims are aged 13 to 18.In view of the situation, Bangladesh Catholics went public with their concern. To highlight it, the Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace of the country (EC-JP), Caritas Bangladesh, and the BCA organised a long human chain."Children are the future of our nation,” said EC-JP secretary Fr Albert Thomas Rozario. “Instead, they are becoming victims. There are laws to protect them, but they are not enforced.”In early August, a 22-year-old Muslim man raped a 12-year-old ethnic Garo Catholic girl. Another girl suffered an even worse fate: her employer tortured and killed her for working for a competitor. Likewise, two boys – 10 and 13 respectively – were beaten to death for allegedly stealing a fish and a van. Sadly, the list goes on with more victims of ill-treatment and abuse. Shared from AsiaNewsIT

Prayers to St. Rose of LimaPatroness Against Vanity, of Embroiderers, Florists, Gardeners,Needle workers, and People Ridiculed for Their PietyPrayer to St. Rose of Lima

Admirable Saint Rose, you were truly a sweet flower blooming on a rugged soil; you were indeed a rose among thorns, bearing with meekness and patience the stings of envious tongues, and preserving perfect purity and modesty amid the alluring blandishments of a deceitful world. To the sufferings inflicted on you by others you added the voluntary tortures of fasting and watching, of the discipline, of the crown of thorns and of the hair shirt, to subdue the flesh and to make yourself like to your heavenly Spouse. By the merits which you have thus gained with your divine Bridegroom, obtain for me the grace to bear my afflictions with patience, to remain pure and modest, to be meek and humble, to be faithful to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, and so to mortify my passions that I may be ever more pleasing and acceptable in the sight of my dear Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, Who liveth and reigneth world without end. Amen.

Chaplet of St. Rose

Beginning on the medal of St. Rose, pray: Glorious St. Rose of Lima, you who knew what it was to love Jesus with such a fine a generous heart. You, whom since infancy, despised the world’s vanities in order to embrace His Cross. You who loved with unfailing devotion our Heavenly Mother and professed a great tender dedication to the destitute, serving then the same way Jesus did. Teach us to imitate your greatest virtues, so that we, following your example, could enjoy your glorious protection in Heaven. For Our Lord, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns forever. Amen.

On the large bead, pray the Our Father

On the ten small beads, pray the Hail Mary

In conclusion, pray the Glory be

"Apart from the cross there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven."~ St. Rose of Lima

Litany of St. Rose of Lima

(For private recitation only)

Lord, have mercy on us!Christ, have mercy on us!Lord, have mercy on us!Christ, hear us!Christ, graciously hear us!

God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us!God, the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us!Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us!

St. Rose of Lima, pray for us.*Sweet-scented rose of piety and virtue,*Servant of God perfectly united with your Master,*Virgin espoused to God from your fifth year,*Thorn-crowned spouse of our Divine Redeemer,*Worthy daughter of St. Dominic,*Faithful copy of St. Catherine of Siena,*Lover of prayer and solitude,*Merciful friend of the poor souls and of hardened sinners,*Consoler of the sick and help of the needy,*First among the saints of America,*Powerful patroness of America,*That we may love God with our whole heart,*That we may fear God's chastisements,*That by true penance, we may avert God's anger,*That we may know and amend our faults,*That we may take up our cross,*That we may cheerfully endure the frailties of our neighbor,*That we may heartily thank God for all our tribulations,*That with our sufferings our love may increase,*That, with contrite hearts and true devotion, we may ever prepare for Holy Communion,*That we may not die an unprovided death,*That we may, until death, daily increase in faith, hope, and charity,*

Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world,Spare us, O Lord!Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world,Graciously hear us, O Lord!Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world,Have mercy on us, O Lord!

V. Pray for us, St. Rose.

R. that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:

O dear St. Rose, by the excessive love that inundated your soul when you heard from the lips of Christ the loving words: "Rose of My heart, you shall be My spouse!"--obtain for us and for our children a true love for Jesus Christ and an ardent desire to be united with Him. May our hearts, enclosed in His Heart, seek nothing but the perfection of His virtues, the fullness of His grace, and the imitation of His example! Obtain for us patience in suffering; gentleness under offenses; humility in calumny and abuse; and in all the affairs of life a pure heart and a contented mind. Obtain for us constant and generous renunciation of our willful desires, perfect victory over evil inclination, perseverance in prayer and good works, that we may ever please our God and, in the end, attain to a share in His glory. Amen.

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary TimeLectionary: 122

Reading 1JOS 24:1-2A, 15-17, 18B

Joshua gathered together all the tribes of Israel at Shechem,summoning their elders, their leaders,their judges, and their officers.When they stood in ranks before God,Joshua addressed all the people:“If it does not please you to serve the LORD,decide today whom you will serve,the gods your fathers served beyond the Riveror the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are now dwelling.As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

But the people answered,“Far be it from us to forsake the LORDfor the service of other gods.For it was the LORD, our God,who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt,out of a state of slavery.He performed those great miracles before our very eyesand protected us along our entire journeyand among the peoples through whom we passed.Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God.”

Responsorial PsalmPS 34:2-3, 16-17, 18-19, 20-21

R. (9a) Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.I will bless the LORD at all times;his praise shall be ever in my mouth.Let my soul glory in the LORD;the lowly will hear me and be glad.R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.The LORD has eyes for the just,and ears for their cry.The LORD confronts the evildoers,to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,and from all their distress he rescues them.The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.Many are the troubles of the just one,but out of them all the LORD delivers him;he watches over all his bones;not one of them shall be broken.R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Reading 2EPH 5:21-32

Brothers and sisters:Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ.Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord.For the husband is head of his wifejust as Christ is head of the church,he himself the savior of the body.As the church is subordinate to Christ,so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything.Husbands, love your wives,even as Christ loved the churchand handed himself over for her to sanctify her,cleansing her by the bath of water with the word,that he might present to himself the church in splendor,without spot or wrinkle or any such thing,that she might be holy and without blemish.So also husbands should love their wives as their own bodies.He who loves his wife loves himself.For no one hates his own fleshbut rather nourishes and cherishes it,even as Christ does the church,because we are members of his body.For this reason a man shall leave his father and his motherand be joined to his wife,and the two shall become one flesh.This is a great mystery,but I speak in reference to Christ and the church.

OrEPH 5:2A, 25-32

Brothers and sisters:Live in love, as Christ loved us.Husbands, love your wives,even as Christ loved the churchand handed himself over for her to sanctify her,cleansing her by the bath of water with the word,that he might present to himself the church in splendor,without spot or wrinkle or any such thing,that she might be holy and without blemish.So also husbands should love their wives as their own bodies.He who loves his wife loves himself.For no one hates his own fleshbut rather nourishes and cherishes it,even as Christ does the church,because we are members of his body.For this reason a man shall leave his father and his motherand be joined to his wife,and the two shall become one flesh.This is a great mystery,but I speak in reference to Christ and the church.

AlleluiaJN 6:63C, 68C

GospelJN 6:60-69

Many of Jesus’disciples who were listening said,“This saying is hard; who can accept it?”Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this,he said to them, “Does this shock you?What if you were to see the Son of Man ascendingto where he was before?It is the spirit that gives life,while the flesh is of no avail.The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.But there are some of you who do not believe.”Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believeand the one who would betray him.And he said,“For this reason I have told you that no one can come to meunless it is granted him by my Father.”

As a result of this,many of his disciples returned to their former way of lifeand no longer accompanied him.Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?”Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go?You have the words of eternal life.We have come to believeand are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

embroiderers; gardeners; India; Latin America; people ridiculed for their piety; Peru; Philippines; Santa Rosa, California; against vanity; Lima; Peruvian Police Force Rose of Lima has a special claim on our interest for she has the honor of being the first person born in the Western Hemisphere to be canonized by the Church. Only a little more than half a century before her birth, the fabulous land of Peru had been discovered and seized for Spain by the explorer Francisco Pizarro. In 1533 this enterprising conquistador subdued the native population and took over as his capital the inland city of Cuzco, with its strange Inca temples, palaces, and great fortress. Two years later the seat of government was transferred to Lima, a city on the coast, which came to be called the "royal city of kings," because of its architectural splendors. Dominican friars and the representatives of other religious orders were in the vanguard of a great migration from Spain and Portugal that meant a long, dangerous journey across the Atlantic, across the Isthmus of Panama, and down the western coast of South America. To implant Christianity in the new empire was a major aim; while the civilian population, European and native, were working the mines and raising products for export, the friars and priests were intensely active. They taught, preached, learned the native languages, tried to win the love and confidence of the Indians, and soon were engaged in building churches, hospitals, and schools.

The child who became St. Rose of Lima was born on April 20 1586, of a Spaniard, Gaspar de Flores, and Maria d'Olivia, a woman who had Inca blood in her veins. The infant, one of ten children born to the couple, was baptized Isabel, after an aunt, Isabel de Herrara, who acted as godmother. This ceremony took place at home, for the baby was extremely weak. Several weeks later the tiny infant was carried to the nearby church of San Sebastian for baptism by the priest, Don Antonio Polanco. By the time she was confirmed by Archbishop Toribio of Lima, the name Isabel had been replaced by Rose, and this was the name now bestowed on her. Rose had a fresh, lovely complexion, and she was worried by the thought that this name had been given as a tribute to her beauty. So sensitive was her conscience that she had genuine scruples over bearing the name, and on one occasion, after hearing someone praise her comeliness, she rubbed pepper into her face to mar it; another time, she put lime on her hands, inducing acute suffering. This was her way-a way conditioned by the time and place-of fighting a temptation to vanity. Such self-imposed cruelties, as we have seen in the lives of some of the other saints, have not been uncommon, particularly among those of a mystical bent.

Rose seems to have taken for her model St. Catherine of Siena, and, like the earlier saint, she experienced so ardent a love of God whenever she was in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament that exaltation completely filled her soul. Yet Rose was not without a practical side. Her father had been well-to-do, but when he lost money in mining ventures, the family's fortunes reached a very low ebb. Rose helped out by selling her fine needlework; she also raised beautiful flowers and these too were taken to market. One of her brothers, Ferdinand, was sympathetic and understanding toward this sister who was so markedly "different." As she grew to maturity, her parents were anxious to have Rose marry, and indeed there were several worthy aspirants for her hand. Rose did not wish marriage, and, to end the arguments and offers, she joined the Third Order of St. Dominic, donned the habit, and took a vow of perpetual virginity.

For many years Rose lived virtually as a recluse. There was a little hut in the family garden, and this she used as an oratory. She often wore on her head a circlet of silver studded on the inside with sharp points, in memory of the Lord's crown of thorns. Other forms of penitence which she inflicted on her body were floggings, administered three times daily, the wearing of a hair shirt, and the dragging of a heavy, wooden cross about the garden. She rubbed her lips with gall and often chewed bitter herbs to deaden the sense of taste. Both eating and sleeping were reduced to a minimum. Naturally her health was affected, but the physical disorders which resulted from this regime-stomach ailments, asthma, rheumatism, and fevers-were suffered uncomplainingly. This manner of life offended her family, who preferred their daughter to follow the more conventional and accepted ways of holiness. Finally, when Rose began to tell of visions, revelations, visitations, and voices they deplored her penitential practices more than ever. She endured their disapproval and grew in spiritual fortitude.

In spite of the rigors of her ascetic life, Rose was not wholly detached from happenings around her, and her awareness of the suffering of others often led her to protest against some of the practices of the Spanish overlords. In the new world, the discovery of unbelievable mineral resources was doing little to enrich or ennoble the lives of the Peruvian natives. The gold and silver from this land of El Dorado was being shipped back to strengthen the empire and embellish the palaces and cathedrals of Old Spain, but at its source there was vice, exploitation, and corruption. The natives were oppressed and impoverished, in spite of the missionaries' efforts to alleviate their miseries and to exercise a restraining hand on the governing class. Rose was cognizant of the evils, and spoke out against them fearlessly. Sometimes she brought sick and hungry persons into her own home that she might better care for them.

For fifteen years Rose bore the disapproval and persecution of those close to her, as well as the more severe trial of desolation of soul. At length an examination by priests and physicians was indicated, and this resulted in the judgment that her experiences were indeed supernatural. Rose's last years were passed in the home of a government official, Don Gonzalo de Massa. During an illness towards the end of her life, she was able to pray, "Lord, increase my sufferings, and with them increase Thy love in my heart." This remarkable woman died on August 25, 1617, at the age of thirty-one.

Not until after her death was it known how widely her beneficent influence had extended, and how deeply venerated she was by the common people of Lima. When her body was borne down the street to the cathedral, a great cry of mourning arose from the crowd. For several days it was impossible to perform the ritual of burial on account of the great press of sorrowing citizens around her bier. She was finally laid to rest in the Dominican convent at Lima. Later, when miracles and cures were being attributed to her intervention, the body was transferred to the church of San Domingo. There it reposes today in a special chapel. Rose of Lima was declared patroness of South America and the Philippines; she was canonized by Pope Clement in 1671, August 30 being appointed her feast-day. This holy woman is highly honored in all Spanish-American countries. The emblems associated with her are an anchor, a crown of roses, and a city. SOURCE : EWTN